The Amarnath Shrine Board on Thursday said it has suspended the registration for Amarnath Yatra this year due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in the country.
In a statement, the board said, “In view of the evolving COVID situation in the country and the need to take all the precautionary measures, registration for Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is being temporarily suspended. The situation is being constantly monitored and it would be reopened once the situation improves.”
The annual pilgrimage is scheduled to start on June 28 and conclude on August 22 after 56 days.
Last year, the annual pilgrimage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The yatra was supposed to start on July 21 last year, but due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, the decision to allow the yatra was reversed.
In 2019, the pilgrimage was halted midway due to the revocation of Article 370. The government had issued an advisory asking tourists and pilgrims to shorten their stay in Jammu and Kashmir two day before the Article 370 revocation.
The board had decided to allow the pilgrims this year. However, the pilgrims will have to follow strict COVID-19 protocols.
Last month, the board in a statement said the yatra has been allowed this year in view of the religious sentiments associated with the pilgrimage of the people.
The board will also make arrangements for the live telecast/virtual darshan of the morning and evening aarti; besides that, the traditional rituals will be carried out as per past practice.
The Amarnath cave that houses the Shiva lingam is located in the mountains 45km from Pahalgam in Anantnag at an altitude of 3,888 metres. The access to the cave from Baltal, Sonmarg in Ganderbal is only 14km long. Most yatris, especially the first timers, hike to the cave from Pahalgam and return via Baltal.
The government has drawn up a detailed security plan for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.